Friction-clutch having removable wearing-surfaces.



H. AUSTIN.

v FRICTION CLUTCH HAVING REMOVABLE WEARING SURFACES. I APPLICATION FILED JUNE 1, 1909.

1 ,020,737. Patented Mar. 19,1912.

To all whom it may concern HERBERT AUSTIN, F IBARNT GREEN, NEAR BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND.

FRICTION-CLUTCH HAVING REMOVABLE WEARING-SURFACES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 19, 1912.

Application filed June 1, 1909. Serial No. 499,430.

Be it known that I, HERBERT AUSTIN, a subject of the King of Great Britain, residing at Barnt Green, near Birmingham, in the county of Vvarwick, England, 'engineer, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Friction-Clutches Having Removable lVearing-Surfaces, of which the following is a specification;

as far out of clutch as they This invention relates to the type of conical friction clutch in which the slipping and clutching surface of one of the members is adapted to be removed in sections when Worn and replaced by a fresh surface.

Broadly describing the main feature of this invention, it consists in dividing the removable wearing surface into a number of separate sections which are supported by the conical surface of the clutch part and each of which comprises a thin metallic backing-plate having at its outer face flexible or yielding material, such for instance as leather, woven fabric, or the like, or being itself faced with a metal or alloy which is softer than such plate, which provides the wearin surface and these sections. when in place, follow one another around the surface of the clutch member by which they are carried, each section such length only as, having regard to the conical shape of the member by which it is to be carried, will allow it to be pushed into place between the two clutch members when these are in their normal out-of-(':lutch position in relation to one another or otherwise can be without disturbing their connections withthc mechanism' inrespect of which they are used, and in means by which such sections may then beremovably fixed in place.

Theinvention may beapplied either to the wearing surface around the inner clutch member or the wearing surface of the/interior of the outer clutch member.

In its application, the invention may be varied considerably in detail; and, in order that it may be readily understood, we will now describe certain practical applications thereof which are illustrated, by way of example, by the drawings herewith, of which;

Figure 1 is a transverse section (that is to mg a section to the rim.

being preferably of the mechanism, of It] "fastened, being with say, a section whose axis of the clutch) through the rims of the inner and outer members of a clutch. Fig. 2 is an elevation, partly in section on line 7 3 of Fig. l, of the inner rim shown by Fig. 1, as the same would appear looked at in the direction of. the arrow a of such figure. Fig. 3 is an elevation of a short length of inner rim of a clutch, showing a method. of limiting the outward spring of a section, which may be utilized also in a modified form of fastening a section to the rim. Fig. 4. an outer or wearing face View of the section shown by Fig. 3, showing a boss, slot and recess of the rim, by broken lines. Fig. 5 is a transverse section taken on line w a: of Fig. 3. Fig. 6 is an inner face view of a short length of the inner rim shown by lfiigs. 3 and 5, where a bolt for limiting the outward spring of the section passes through. Fig. 7 is a corresponding view to Fig. 3, showing a further form of fasten- Fig. 8 is a corre sponding view to Fig. 3, showing a form of the invention in which a section is fixed in. the manner shown by Figs. 1 and 2, but is itself formed with elastic tongues for the purpose hereinafter shown. Fig. 9 is. a face view of the section shown by Fig 8, \*itl"i the outer cover," forming the wearing surface, removed, and; Fig. '10 is a viewcorrcspumding to Fig. 8, showing the outer cover to be pressed outward at the middle by a spring device.

Referring first to Figs. 1 and 2, Av is the inner clutch rim and B theouter. A numr ber of sections G follow one another in succession around the conical. rim A, and I are carried thereby. The outer faces of these sections constitute the surfaces which fric-. tionally clutch with the conical inner surface of the rim B, and the sections are each of such length only as will permit, when the clutch parts are as far out of clutch as they can be moved, in ordinary use, or otherwise, without disturbing their connections with gi r readily, when unqfawn from between the conical surfaces of the rims A and B and replaced by fresh sections. Each section consists of a steel sole or backing plate plane is radial to the 0 which forms a foundation, and of a facing 0 of leather, woven fabric, or the like, which is fastened thereto, such as by rivets 0 Each soleplate 0 projects at each end some- What beyond the facing 0 and in putting a section into place these projecting ends a are slipped along within grooves d of transverse strips D which are let into transverse grooves a of the rim A and are held therein by pins (Z The sections are pushed up against a flange a formed around the inner edge of the rim A, and are prevented from slipping back within the grooves d by washers E each of which passes across the outer edges at the adjacent ends of two plates v c and is itself fixed to the rim A by a bolt 0.

If, as is usually the case, portions of the wearing surface of one member of the clutch are desired to spring out beyond other portions thereof, when the members of the clutch are out-of-clutch, in order that portions of the surface may yield gradually as v the clutch parts are brought together, with the result that the frictional grip may come gradually into play, each plate 0 may be adapted to spring out somewhatat the unddle when free to do so, and in Fig. 2 the plate, of which the full length is illustrated, is shown to have sprung out in this manner. The outward spring may be definitely limited, conveniently in the manner presently described.

The remaining views are of a somewhat diagrammatic form, for the sake of simplicity and convenience of illustration, the conical surfaces being shown as if cylindrical.

Referring now to Figs. 3 to 6, inclusive, the sole-plate c has a bolt f at its middle, which passes through the rim A and has a nut f on its inner end which is screwed up against a shoulder f of tlebolt. This nut prcventsthe solcplate from springing out beyond a predetermined distance. The bolt is conveniently connected with the sole-plate by forming it with a countersunk head f which is let into a countersunk hole, of the sole-plate, and a boss 0, is formed at the inner side of the rim A to strengthen the rim where the bolt f passes through. To enable the sole-plate carryingthe bolt f to be pushed into position across the outer face of the rim A, the hole through the rim and boss through which the bolt f passes is slot-- ted out to the outer edge of the rim, as clearly shown at a" Fig. 6.

. If the sole-- plate 0 has its ends slid within grooves in the manner described with reference to Figs.

middle of the plate from moving sidewise.

The washer f" may be made separate from the nut, if desired. A collar f surrounds the bolt immediately at the back of the plate and forms in effect the back head of the rivet by' which the bolt is fixed to the plate, and this collar fits within a corresponding recess a in the outer face of the rim A, and is of such thickness only as will allow it ,to be passed in with the section. The collar is however always some distance within the recess a when the nut fhas been screwed up against the shoulder j'- of the bolt f. The use of the bolt f, in the manner described, permits also of the ends of the sole-plate 0 being free, if desired.

Referring now to Fig. '7, the sole-plate 0 is shown as simply fixed near its ends by two bolts F, which correspond with the bolt 'f shown by Figs. 3 and 5 except that the sole-plate is firmly held at each end against the rim A by the bolts, respectively. These bolts are passed into place with the soleplate, being moved along within slots of the rim A similarly as the bolt 7 is moved into place. In order to prevent the sole-plate from slipping out sidewise, the nut f of each bolt F may be formed with a washer f which enters a recess in the corresponding boss a similarly as the washer f of the nut f enters within the recess of the boss a Referring now to Figs. 8 and 9, the soleplate 0 is formed with two metal tongues c" which are pressed out from the metal of the plate leaving them joining into the plate near the ends thereof but divided from one another at the middle of the plate' These tongues are somewhat-flexible and tend to press outthemiddle of the covering material 0 notwithstanding that the main portion of the sole-plate lies closely against the rim A. I

Referring now to Fig.10, G is a spring within a socket G which projects from the ,inner surface of the rim A. This s ring normally tends to pressou't the mid 1e of the covering material 0 but to limit the extent'to which-this can take place, and to enable the s ring to be drawn in sufiiciently to allow t e sole-plate 0 to be slipped into place, a pin 9, having a flat round head 9 which comes against the outer end of the spring, passes through the socket'and out through the inner end thereof and is provided with a nut g on its end which'projects at the back of the socket. I

The invention substantially as above deadapted to gradually yield scribed, modified if desired to suit circumstances, is applicable also, as will be understood, to friction clutches generally of the conical type, whether for the purpose of re newing the wearing surface while one clutch member is partially within the other or not, and the means by which the sections may be at their operative surfaces, and the means of limiting the ex tent to which such surfaces can be sprung or pressed out, and the means of fixing the sections in place, are all, substantially as described, ,useful for general application to this type of clutch.

It will now be obvio'us that the invention is capable of considerable modification; and that the sections may be applied to the outer rim, instead of to the inner, in the manner substantially in which they have been described, according to the different modifications, as applied to the inner rim.

The nature of the invention will now be readily understood without need for further description or illustration.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:- v

1. In a friction clutch of the conical type. a clutch member, a second clutch member movable axially in relation to said first named clutch member and adapted when,

moved in one direction to make frictional contact with such other member and when moved in the opposite direction to release such other member, and a plurality of deviceslocated between said clutch members and adapted to constitute a friction or wearing surface, and securing means adapted to ren'iovably secure said devices to one of the clutch men'ibers.

2. In a friction clutch of the conical type, a clutch member, a second clutch member movable axially in relation to said first named clutch member and adapted when moved in one direction tomake frictional contact with such other member and when moved in the opposite direction to release such other member, aplui'ality of devices located between said clutch members and adapted to constitute a friction or wearing surface, and securing means adapted to removably secure said devices to one of the clutch members, said devices each comprising a plate ofuniform thickness throughout provided with an outer facing of comparatively soft wearing material.

3. in a friction clutch of the conical type. a clutch member, a second clutch member movable axially in relation to said first named clutch member and adapted when moved in one direction to make frictional contact with such. other member and when moved in the opposite direction to release such other member, a plurality of devices located between said clutch members and adapted to constitute a friction or wearing clutch members, said devices comprising plates each provided with an outer facing of comparatively soft material, and said clutch member to which the plates are secured having transverse guides along which said plates may slide.

4. In a friction clutch of the conical type, the combination with an outer clutch member, and an inner clutch member, one of said members being provided with transverse grooves; of a plurality of devices each comprising a plate provided with an outer surface of con'iparatively soft material adapted to constitute a friction or wearing surface, the ends of such plates being adapted to slide into the said transverse grooves of said clutch member. 7

In a friction clutch of the conicaltype, the cou'ibination with an outer clutch member, and an inner clutch member, one of said members being provided with transverse groov s; of a plurality of devices each comprising a plate provided with an outer surface of comparatively soft material adapted to constitute a friction or wearing surface, said plate being adapted to spring outward at its middle portion; and means for securing each of said plates to a clutch member.

(3. In a friction clutch of theronical type, the combination with an outer clutch member, and an inner clutch member, of a plurality of devices each comprising a plate of which the outer surface constitutes a friction or wearing surface, said plate being adapted to spring outward at its middle portion; and means for securing each of said plates to a clutch member, said means comprising bolts projecting from each of said plates, slots in said clutch menibcr adapted to receive said bolts sidewise, and nuts on said bolts.

7. in a friction clutch of the conical type, the combination with an outer clutch member, and an inner clutch member. of a plu rality of devices each comprising a plate provided with an outer surface. of comparalively soft material adapted to constitute a friction or wearing surface, and means for securing each of said plates to a clutch member, said means comprising bolts projecting from each of said plates. slots in such clutch member adapted to receive said bolts sidcwise, nuts on said bolls, recesses in said clutch member and ring-like structures which surround the bolts and are moved as the nuts are screwed up into said recesses and secure the bolts against moving side-- wise within said bolts.

8. in a friction clutch of the conical type, the combination Wllll an outer clutch mcn|- bet, and an inner clutch memlu-r, of a plurality of devices each comprising a plate In witness whereof I have hereunto being adapted to spring outward at its inid- Witnesses:

provided with an outer surface of comsigned my name this 18th day of May 1909, paratively soft material adapted to consti-. in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses. tute a friction or Wearing surface, said plate HERBERT AUSTIN.

dle portion; and means for securing each ERNEST HARKER,

of said plates to a clutch member, ROBERT G. GROVES. 

